Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit will provide a detailed review of the various strategies and programs that have been used in an attempt to modify road user behaviour. An overview will be provided of the different criteria and methods commonly used to assess the effectiveness of road user behaviour programs. This will facilitate a comparison of effective and ineffective approaches, designed to identify the key characteristics of successful programs. This comparison will include an analysis of relevant theoretical models that have been used to guide the development or implementation of road user safety programs. While all types of road users will be considered, special attention will be given to high-risk groups, particularly young drivers.

While this is a stand-alone unit, it extends many of the theoretical and practical issues covered in PYP402 - Traffic Psychology & Behaviour.

Aims

The aim of this unit is for you to acquire the knowledge and skills underpinning the design, implementation and evaluation of road user safety countermeasures.

Objectives

The specific objectives of the unit are to provide students with:

1. An understanding of the interaction between human, road environment and vehicle factors contributing to road crashes;
   
   
2. An understanding of strategies and mechanisms used to modify road user behaviour;
   
   
3. Ability to use theoretical models to conceptualise road user behaviour and develop crash prevention strategies and programs; and
   
   
4. Ability to critique the implementation and evaluation of road user safety countermeasures.
   
   

Content

The major themes that will be covered in the unit include:

1. the criteria and methods commonly used to assess the effectiveness of road user safety programs;

2. a review of the major strategies used to modify the behaviour of road users, including:

• school-based road safety programs,
  
• driver/rider training and education,
  
• driver licensing,
  
• traffic law enforcement (including policing programs, penalties and sanctions),
  
• driver improvement,
  
• offender management programs (e.g. rehabilitation),
  
• public education
  
• incentives and rewards,
  
• community-based programs;

3. characteristics of cost-effective programs;

4. the complementary use of road user safety programs with traffic and vehicle engineering;

5. commonly used theoretical models underpinning road user safety programs, including:

• Deterrence Theory,
  
• Social Learning Theory,
  
• Theory of Planned Behaviour,
  
• The Theorist's Model;

6. techniques for implementing and monitoring road user safety countermeasures; and

7. methods used for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of road user safety countermeasures.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will generally be delivered in the form of a weekly two-hour lecture, followed by a discussion-oriented tutorial designed to promote critical analysis and debate. Extensive use will be made of case studies to illustrate the value of a strategic approach to road safety and to provide problems for tutorial exercises and assessment purposes. The relevance of the unit will be enhanced through the use of guest lecturers from government and non-government agencies.

The case studies will draw on both Australian and overseas experience, to increase the relevance of the unit for internastional students. Issues such as drink driving (alcohol use) will be treated in a culturally sensitive manner.

Assessment

It should be noted that academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarism) is in breach of the QUT Student Rules as set out in Student Rule 29, go to http://studentservices.qut.com/entry/handbook/rules/rules.jsp

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: Student presentation involves a critique the effectiveness of a major road user safety countermeasure. (15-20 minutes).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Assignment
Description: Written assignment involving the documentation of the above critique (2500 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Assignment
Description: Written assignment involving a discussion of the relative effectiveness of two or more countermeasures trageting a common problem behaviour (3000-3500 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 14

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Texts

Evans L. (2004). Traffic safety. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. (Available on-line at: )


References

Elliott B. (1992). Achieving high levels of compliance with road safety laws: A review of road user behaviour modification. Brisbane: Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee, Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

Elliott B. (1993). Road safety mass media campaigns: A meta analysis. Canberra: Federal Office of Road Safety, AGPS.

Ferguson M., Sheehan M., Davey J. and Watson B. (1999). Drink driving rehabilitation: The present context. Canberra: Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Homel R. (1988). Policing and punishing the drinking driver: A study of specific and general deterrence.New York: Springer-Verlag.

Henstridge J., Homel R. and Mackay P. (1997). The long-term effects of random breath testing in four Australian states: A time series analysis, CR 162, Federal Office of Road Safety, Canberra.

Job R.F.S. (1999). The driver: the psychology of road safety. In J. Clark (Ed.),Safe and mobile: Introductory studies in road safety. Armidale: University of New England Press.

Lonero L.P. and Clinton K.M. (1998). Changing road user behaviour: what works, what doesn't. Toronto: PDE Publications.

Rothengatter T. and Carbonell Vaya E. (Eds.). (1997). Traffic and transport psychology: Theory and application. Amsterdam: Pergamon.

Sheehan M., Schonfeld C., and Davey J. (1995). A community based prevention/rehabilitation programme for drink drivers in a rural region: 'Under the Limit' (CR 156). Canberra: Federal Office of Road Safety, AGPS.

Travelsafe (1996). Queensland's road toll: drink driving (Part 1). Report No.19. Brisbane: Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee, Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

Travelsafe (1999). Unlicensed, unregistered and on the road. Report No.27. Brisbane: Parliamentary Travelsafe Committee, Legislative Assembly of Queensland.

Trinca G.W., Johnston I.R., Campbell B.J., Haight F.A., Knight P.R., Mackay M., McLean A.J. and Petrucelli E. (1988). Reducing traffic injury - A global challenge. Melbourne: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Watson B. (1997). When common sense just won't do: misconceptions about changing the behaviour of road users. In Bullen & Troutbeck (Eds.), The 2nd International Conference on Accident Investigation, Reconstruction, Interpretation and the Law: Proceedings, Brisbane, 20-23 October 1997.

Watson B., Fraine G. and Mitchell L. (1994). Enhancing the effectiveness of RBT in Queensland. Prevention of Alcohol Related Road Crashes: Social and Legal Approaches Conference. Brisbane: Griffith University and Queensland Transport.

Watson B., Fresta J., Whan H., McDonald J., Dray R., Bauermann C and Churchward R. (1996). Enhancing driver management in Queensland. Brisbane: Queensland Transport.

Wilde G.J.S. (1994). Target risk. Toronto: PDE Publications. (Available on-line at: http://pavlov.psyc.queensu.ca/target/)

Zaal D. (1994). Traffic law enforcement: A review of the literature (Report No. 53). Melbourne: Monash University Accident Research Centre.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 13-Sep-2012